Cover vs AI2 - I'm clueless...

So I'm still confused as to what the difference these are. Here is what I feel they are:

Pocket: An outer and an inner with a hole that allows you to put the insert inbetween the two layers.

Cover: Wrap that goes around a prefold or has inserts laid in it and then placed on baby. Can have exposed PUL for easy reuse or can have an inner lining so the PUL is not touching the baby's skin. The PUL can either show through on the outside with the use of FOE or there can be a cute cotton print on the outside if it's t&t'd.

AI2: I'm clueless. Everything that I've read makes it sound like a Cover with PUL that is hidden by an inner lining.

Can someone post picks and better explain to me the different between an AI2 and a Cover?

Comments (7)

You pretty much have it right. A cover generally doesn't have an inner layer, but an AI2 shell does. The original idea of AI2 was that you took the soaker insert out of the AIO so it would dry faster and be easier to adjust the absorbency if needed. Reusable AI2 shells with non-absorbent inners came next.

Ok, so just to confirm I got this right... An AI2 is (from the outside to inside) an optional cotton print, a layer of PUL and final layer of another water resistant material (such as fleece)? You just lay your insert on top of the water resistant material, put on baby and go?

I'm making AI2 newborns because I'm new to sewing diapers (mine are definitely not perfect, especially the sewing) so it's a little easier and I didn't want to deal with stuffing or having an AIO that takes forever to dry when we eventually have another baby.

And DH said he'd use AIOs, pockets, or AI2s, but he won't use flats, prefolds, or fitteds pretty much. So it was that or nothing to convince him.

At their most basic, AI2s keep the PUL from touching skin. I usually use suedecloth for my AI2 inners, because it's trim and doesn't wick unless it's touching an absorbent material. Many people do use non-wicking poly fleece to make it easy to t&t, but I use FOE.

lol Newborn AI2 shells are usually not reusable. I swear, both Z and E had a knack for poo bombs that stopped just short of leaking out of the cover, even in fitteds.